May 17, 2009

Christian Laettner is a Jerk. It's Official - Grant Hill Said So.

Dan Patrick (SI): This is my idea for a reality show: Have a camera crew follow Christian Laettner in full Duke uniform through Kentucky during March Madness to get people's reactions.

Grant Hill: Laettner is a little bit of a jerk, and I mean that in the nicest way. He'd probably do it for free.

DP: Why was he such a jerk, even to his own teammates?

GH: Everything was a competition. He liked to get under people's skin. We had a great group of guys and we all liked each other, but Laettner was an ass. He would pick fights with guys, like a big bully. But it would carry over onto the court. And he was so good, so competitive.

DP: If I said you could have traded him for Larry Johnson...

GH: Never. I thoroughly enjoyed playing with Christian.

To my dying day, I will not understand how my Kentucky alumna mom was happy with the 1992 East Regional, even if she was a longtime Durham resident by then. (Said mom also has a photo with Grant Hill, bent over like a question mark to stay in the picture.) Also to my dying day, I will not understand why I continue to care.